I am a mother to a son who will be 3 in May 2007. He knows how to identify and write letters, numbers, and is starting to sound out words. Knows couting and picking out numbers 1-20 and then counting to 50. Really doing great for his age.

I don't want him to be bored in entering school and want to avoid all of the problems with public school. My husband are looking into homeschooling. I am most interested in the creative homeschooling with some structured basics, but mostly encouraging his lead.

The curriculums that I have found are mostly Christian based. While I am Christian myself, I am also interested in teaching him about Darwinism. Is there a curriculum that goes into both or is that to confusing for a child?

How much can you expect to spend on curriculum materials each year? Do you recommend getting the sets that are sold online like the Calvert School that offers the materials for each grade?

I would feel comfortable homeschooling through the 8th grade, however the highschool years concern me. I am not sure I would challenge him enough (because I have forgotten a lot!). How do you do it? If you don't then that is a rough transition back into public high school, YIKES!!!

How easily are home schooled children accepted into colleges? Do they have to jump through more hoops than normal?

I will stop there although I have many more questions. I have never really been exposed to home schooling until moving here and truly feel it is such an amazing investment I can give my son if I know what I am doing.....

I can't answer them all but if you are wanting to let your child lead his education, especially in the early years, I wouldn't get a curriculum. Buy a few workbooks, for handwriting, and maybe math, but let him explore, and read, and grow, in the areas that he is interested in. When he has a question about something, go to the library and learn about it. When he asks about the natural world, let him know what you believe and what others believe. www.icr.org is a great website for answering questions in the realm of creation, and the library can answer questions toward the realm of macro-evolution.

For the other questions, I can't help you because my boys aren't dealing with High school stuff yet. I'm not worrying about it, because we will figure it out when we get a little closer. My plan is to let them older, figure out if they want to go to college, and then plan for it accordingly.

Don't be afraid to home school through the high school years. If you teach your child to love learning and HOW, to learn, they can teach themselves, you just have to keep them accountable, that's just what I've heard, and I'm hoping, _________________Phi 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

At that age I'd recommend looking at before five in a row. As a storyteller and librarian, I love the way this curriculum works. The library should have most if not all the books you would need to use.

I wouldn't do too much with a three year old. Pushing too much academically and before they are ready can have the opposite results of what you might wish for.

If your child grows up watching you and your husband read, he is likely to want to read books.

If you make constructive learning available in the form of toys and outings, you'd be surprised at what he will learn on his own.

Yes, you can find materials that teach religious and secular views in science for the coming years. It's great IMO to make both available and talk with your child about your views and why you hold them.